Internet backbone completed locally

The contractor who has been building the backbone fiber optic cable that will aid in bringing Broadband service to Cheboygan County has completed the segment locally.

By Shawna Jankoviakshawna@cheboygantribune.com

The contractor who has been building the backbone fiber optic cable that will aid in bringing Broadband service to Cheboygan County has completed the segment locally.Jeremy Ranck, a project manager for J. Ranck, said the company is complete with its work “up north.” There is now continuity from Gaylord to the south side of the Mackinac Bridge.J. Ranck crews ran both aerial strands and underground strands of fiber optic cable throughout the county. The underground construction process involves placing conduit in the ground, which serves as a pipeline for the fiber to run through. Once the conduit is completely run from point to point, the fiber is blown through the inside of it, with air pushing the cable through. For aerial construction, a support cable holds the fiber, which is strung between existing utility poles.Internet service providers will only be able to tie off to the main fiber in order to offer the service to homes and businesses once the project is complete.J. Ranck Electric of Mt. Pleasant was the primary contractor for the six segments of the fiber optic build that touch Cheboygan County.The work in Cheboygan County is part of the REACH Michigan Middle Mile Collaborative project. Merit Network, Inc. is building a more than 2,200 mile fiber-optic backbone network throughout the state of Michigan, as well as spurs in Wisconsin and Minnesota. This network is being constructed with the assistance of two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants in the amount of $102 million, along with a 20 percent match in funds from Merit and its seven sub-recipients. The REACH-3MC project is one of the largest Broadband Technology Opportunities Program projects in the country and is expected to serve 52 counties in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.Merit is a middle-mile provider, which means it only coordinates the running of the main fiber. It will be up to local Internet service providers to bring Broadband service to homes. Fifty-two counties make up the project service area. Cheboygan County is included in Phase II of the project.Progress reports on the entire project are accessible via the Web and are now organized by counties along the network routes, with periodic updates posted. The website can be accessed at www.merit.edu/meritformichigan/

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